Scrivener's 'brain fade' derails hopes

Jason Scrivener has suffered the cruellest cut with a penalty at the most inopportune moment derailing his hopes in the ISPS Handa Vic Open.

Playing in the final group at 13th Beach as the joint overnight leader, Western Australia’s Scrivener had marked his ball on the short par-four 15th hole and was waiting to putt for birdie. At the time he was 12-under par, just two shots from the lead.

But rules officials said later that when his turn came, he picked up his marker without first replacing his ball in the original spot. Under rule 9.7b, this incurs a one-shot penalty.

An emotional Scrivener said later the incident had come at the end of a “ridiculously long day”, and was the result of fatigue. The final group took five hours, 45 minutes to complete their rounds in brutal, windy and wet conditions.

The man from Mandurah went on to bogey the 17th hole and finally carded a four-over par 76.

It leaves him in a tie for 10th place, five shots from the lead held by South Australia’s Wade Ormsby.

“I think just I was exhausted,’’ Scrivener said later. “It was such a long day, I don't know how long it was.

“(It was a) Brain fade, yeah. Just one of those things you never ever expect to do, but I don't know. I think there was obviously a lot going through my head. Yeah, one of those things.’’